Hold Steady, LCD Soundsystem, Caribou: There Is So Much Free, New, Amazing Music Right Now

This past week has been like Hanukkah for anyone in love with good, modern music. Seemingly each new day recently has seen a different and excellent band putting up their new albums for free streaming. Better than gelt! Right now, the Hold Steady is getting my day off to a good start in the way that only …

Braised Lentil Soup

As a grammar snob, misused quotation marks on restaurant menus drive me a bit crazy–or perhaps make me [sic]? “Confit” and “braised” are two I've seen used often, when in fact the items listed haven't gone through a cooking process even slightly resembling, respectively, being simmered in fat or being seared hot then cooked low, …

Steven Bren, Son of Billionaire Irvine Co. Chairman, Lands on Tax Delinquent List

A former Grand Prix racing champion and son of billionaire Irvine Co. chairman Donald Bren occupies the No. 18 spot on the most recently updated list of California's most delinquent tax delinquents. Steven and Cynthia Bren of Emerald Bay owe $2,209,561.23 in personal income tax, according to the annual Franchise Tax Board (FTB) list of …

Is “Quake Quack” Behind Bold Prediction of a Significant SoCal Shaker This Week?

Twitter is all a-twitter with the revelation that a big earthquake will hit Southern California some time today through Friday, but those freaking out likely have no idea that the source of the ground-shaking news has been labeled a “Quake Quack.” Luke Thomas has for years made online predictions on QuakePrediction.com, and he apparently has …

Local BBQ Team To Compete At “The Ultimate BBQ Showdown” in Wildomar

Those of you who follow the OC food blogging scene and Chowhound should know that our friend and Weekly contributor Professor Salt is passionate for BBQ. He and three friends, all of them food bloggers, make up a competitive BBQ team called Four Q. They've competed in many a BBQ competition. ] The next big …

San Diego Convention Center Gets Bigger, Chances of Comic-Con Coming to Anaheim Get Smaller

Just a couple of weeks ago, news that Comic-Con International–the massive comic book/movie/TV/video game/pop culture extravaganza that occupies every speck of the San Diego Convention Center each July–would move a couple hours north to Anaheim or Los Angeles dominated the buzz in geek circles, perhaps even surpassing news of Chris Evans playing Captain America. Now …

Dead Weather 'Die By the Drop,' Hold Steady Debut Single, MJ Doc Done Bad, Akon Stoned

New Dead Weather album, Sea of Cowards, due out May 7. First single, “Die by the Drop,” could drop early as today. Witness claims Michael Jackson's doctor halted CPR, delayed calling paramedics, so he could stash drug vials. The Hold Steady debut first single–“Hurricane J”–off upcoming album Heaven is Whenever. Sri Lankans throw stones at …

Richard Nguyen, Phillipe Zamora and Wendell Lemond Learn Bloody Fates

A Garden Grove man who choked his elderly mother to death because she wanted him to study medicine instead of pharmacy was convicted of manslaughter this morning. Prosecutors wanted murder. They did get it for a North Carolina man who helped a greedy woman kill a Westminster fortune teller and her daughter before white paint …

Local Natives Shine at SXSW; Earn Rave Reviews from BBC, RS, NME, NPR and More

Local Natives crushed at South by Southwest, returning home to LA with massive momentum leading up to their April 18 Coachella date. The other OC/LBC acts that made appearances in Austin surely turned heads but nothing like Local Natives. The quintet had critics drooling.    This blowing up stuff began last year at SXSW thanks to songs such as the brilliantly charming, …